Improvement in pocket-books



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS SAARBACK, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN POCKET-BLOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 48,727, dated July 11, 1865.

To all lwhom it may concern Be it known that I, Louis SAAEBACK, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Pocket-Books or Porte-Monnaies; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, andtolctters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists of an' elastic strip or band combined with and arranged in respect to a pocket-book or porte-monnaie, and having bent ends adapted to each other, in the manner described hereinafter, so as to form a more durable fastening than the gum-elastic bands heretofore used for the same purpose.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specitication, Figure 1 is a front view of my improved pocket-book or porte-monnaie; Fig. 2,a transverse section, and Fig. 3 an enlarged view of part of the metal strip or band for securing the book.

Similar letters refer to similar parts th ron ghout the several views.

Before describing my invention it may be well to state thatitrelates to that class ofpocket-books and porte-monnaies in connection with which elastic bands composed partly of gum-elastic have been heretofore use for keeping the books closed and maintaining the contents in the folds or pockets. Itis well known that, however well these elastic bands may serve the desired purpose when new, they ultimately become deprived of their elasticity, and conse- 'quently of their utility, owing to repeated stretching.

In place ofthe usual gum-elastic band, I use a thin strip,B, (which I prefer to make of properly-tempered steel,) which I rivet or otherwise secure to the back ofthe porte-monnaie or pocket-book A at two points, a. a', Fig. 2, the strip passing around the book,its two ends meeting cach other at the edge as ot' the book, and the said ends e c being bent so that one shallcatch nto the other, as seen in Fig. 3. To each side of the metal strip B, immediately above the points a a, where it is scoured to the book,'a ring, b, is solderedorotherwiseattached. The strip is of such a length and so formed that it will fit snugly to the book, and is so elastic that it will yield to a limited extent when the book is enlarged by its contents.

When the book has to bcopened it should be so held in the hand that a linger will bear against one of the rings and a thumb against the other ring. A slight pressure of the strip between the finger and thumb will then contract the book and cause one bent end of the strip to escape from the other, after which the book can be readily opened, owing to the elasticitS7 ot' the strip.

By pressing the two ends of the strip toward each other near their ends, one bent end can be readily made to catch onto the other, thereby securing the book.

It will be evident that the metallic strip or band applied to the book in the manner described aft'ords a much more convenient and durable medium for confining the folds ofthe book together thanthe usual gum-elastic band. It will also be evident that any pieces ot' metal conveniently formed for the reception of the finger and thumb may be substituted for the rings a a.

I am aware that an elastic metal band has heretofore been used for confining detached papers, the ends of the band being arranged to catch into eachother. This I do not claim; but

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The elastic metal band or strip B,' combined with and arranged in respect to apocket-book or porte-monnaie in the manner described, and having bent ends adapted to each other, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name 

